Why not GC?

[ynot]

I bought my SR5 from Guitar Center in Redondo Beach CA, my experience was great. They have a staff of musicians that use the products that they sell, I saw one of the bands perform (employees of the local GC) and they had from what I could see the pedals, amps, and of course guitars and basses that they claimed to have experience with. I've been doing biz with GC for a number of years and have always had a good experience. There is something to be said for that IMHO.

-T

 

[bovinehost]

It is funny, the bunch of us kicking around in the forum, thinking about GC's business model as if we had any idea what really worked.

They're obviously doing so many things right, but I like the fact that the GC boss is interested enough to sign up and get our views. How many of you guys have become even bigger fans of EBMM simply because Sterling takes the time to come in and...well, do whatever it is he does here?

I predict less GC Bashing by those who take part in the upcoming event, and not because we're a gaggle of sycophants - but because it makes a difference when you understand WHY things happen a certain way.

Here at Camp Bovine during the Bongo Fest, I was peppered with the "Why no green basses" question. Had I not had a conversation or two with Sterling, I might not have really understood why we don't have green basses.

Once you know someone and talk to them and understand certain aspects, they're no longer that Faceless Entity.

If this forum had real pull with BP. He wouldn't produce anything but green or white basses. And all the pick gaurds would be changed and so forth.

It is, in some ways, just that simple. As I've said many times, we are not your average consumers....but we DO influence things because we're so damned mouthy and we do buy (and sell, sometimes) a fair amount of basses.

Sterling will correct me if I'm wrong, but he listens to you guys. I know he does. When we're insane, he ignores it or tells us why we're smoking crack. But sometimes you guys - especially the younger guys - have opinions that we old geezers might not have considered, and that's valuable. Yeah, we old geezers have the disposable income, perhaps, but the young punks will soon inherit the earth and nobody besides Fender makes a living by rehashing what's already been done.

Well, in any case, this is my opinion, which doesn't make it the truth, but it's what I'm thinking right now. Sterling will tear me a new one if I'm wrong, heh heh.

Jack

 

[Colin]

If I recall right. Isn't GC the place some folks go and get a bass of their choice take it home play a gig or two with it and take it back since it is within the return policy?



tk

Kmart here is similar, I've heard of people buying plants and when they die, returning them for a refund. Also those weekly gossip magazines are regularly returned because the costumer doesn't want it anymore.

Colin

 

[tkarter]

Kmart here is similar, I've heard of people buying plants and when they die, returning them for a refund. Also those weekly gossip magazines are regularly returned because the costumer doesn't want it anymore.

Colin

I wouldn't want to manage a Kmart either. I would like to run the spy cameras though.


tk

 

[Colin]

I wouldn't want to manage a Kmart either. I would like to run the spy cameras though.


tk

I'm just glad Kmart doesn't sell pets or Adult toys.

Colin

 

[syciprider]

I'm a big GC supporter. I cultivated two or three ppl in their San Marcos CA store. I always go to these guys and give them my business. I also go in there informed and versed on whatever I am there for.

Anyway I am amazed at the deals the guys hook me up with because I always go to them. I got a brand new SWR Goliath 410 at a Workingman price. Ampeg SVT 4 Pro @ SVT 3 Pro price. Let's not talk about my basses anymore
To keep me happy while SLO builds my HH SR5, they let me keep a regular SR5 until my order arrives (in April). If they can't do a better price on an item, they'll throw in a set of strings or something. It's little things like that that IMHO, sets this particular GC apart from my local stores and online stores. I do some serious shopping online, but not the amps and basses. It's not that buying an EBMM bass sight unseen is a bad idea. They are very consistent in my limited experience.

 

[strummer]

Had I not had a conversation or two with Sterling, I might not have really understood why we don't have green basses.

Isn't that weird? I will never understand why there aren't more gren basses...
I mean, I realize it's because noone byus them, but I can't understand why?
I guess the general public just hasn't got any taste at all?
It's so strange, but the best selling colors I think are sunburst and black. Why would you want to have a bass in the same color as someone else? Unless his name is Dargin och Jack, of course

 

[Rayan]

Making $$$ Make Music

... many people (myself included) go there to try a guitar and then buy it elsewhere ... in my own defense I did it with the intention of buying it there if the price was right ... Some folks go in and play their stuff with no intention of buying there under any circumstance, and that bothers me too ...

... I was walking out of a local GC one day, and a guy who was in there trying all sorts of guitars was walking next to me in the parking lot. He said it was 'like Disneyland' in there.. he said he loved to go in regularly and play guitars that he could never afford to buy. That really irritated me.

But for the life of me I don't have a good solution ...

~
With an extra tnx to BP for cutting this space and time, and his comments about "choices", I scooped a couple of lines from the GC and GCMF campsites to help fill in the picture ...

To most of us, on any given day, we're chasin' hot riffs, hot deals, & hot chix ...

Tnx also to 'strummer' for starting this thread; I did a bit more diggin' than usual and uncovered another angle I've never really thought about ...

I reckon it's one thing to sit and complain; and it's another thing to get up and take action ...

And it's one thing to be a responsible consumer; and it's another thing to be a responsible corporate citizen ...
~

*
"Press Release
Guitar Center, Inc. (Nasdaq:GTRC) today reported sales for the fourth quarter and the year ended December 31, 2005.
...
Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2005 increased 17.8% to $1.782 billion compared with $1.513 billion for 2004."

*
"Dear Friends,

For almost 30 years, I worked to help build and grow the largest musical instrument retailer in the world. But during that time ... I became more and more sensitized to the fact that the opportunity for newer generation kids to experience the joys and power of music was diminishing.
...

... programs in California music and arts education have dropped almost 50% in the last 4 years?
... most of the 82 public school districts in Los Angeles County dedicated less than 1% of their total budget to arts education.
...

Knowing how important music is to my life ... we created the Guitar Center Music Foundation ... to leverage our assets and resources to support other charities and advocacies with successful models that are doing the work.

But now we need your help ... to reverse the trend in public schools ... assist others to provide a music opportunity to kids in high-risk communities ... making available low-cost lessons in our communities ... bring music and wellness to the senior community.

I was once told that the "journey of a thousand miles is a matter of putting one foot ahead of the other." Will you take a step with me? Will you help me make a difference? If music is a part of your life, will you help us give the gift that can last a lifetime? Please join us.

Sincerely,

Larry E. Thomas
Chairman and founder,
The Guitar Center Music Foundation"
*

"We are music advocates!

At GCMF, we are committed to supporting music ...
... (music) improves SAT scores, reading and math skills, social skills and self-discipline. Music enhances higher brain function, develops quick and decisive thinking and builds teamwork.
...

John Entwistle Foundation! ... musical education for underprivileged children ... to make musical instruments available to anyone, anywhere that wants to learn to play.
...

Guitars In The Classroom! ... is a Non-Profit Grant Program Bringing Music with Guitars into the Elementary School Classroom.
...

TheMusicEdge.com ... is designed to get teens interested in music ... cool tips on how to start a band
...

New Horizons Band ... a band program for adult beginners and people who may have played in school but put it aside for many years.
...

The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation ... supports ... the donation of new and refurbished musical instruments to underserved school and community music programs ..."
~
/R

 

[BigBallz]

How many of you guys have become even bigger fans of EBMM simply because Sterling takes the time to come in and...well, do whatever it is he does here?

I predict less GC Bashing by those who take part in the upcoming event, and not because we're a gaggle of sycophants - but because it makes a difference when you understand WHY things happen a certain way.



Jack

I just try to stay on his good side so he won't lick my bass.

Again, why do you call it "Bashing" when we are telling stories of FACT that have happened. My experiences with GC are not opinion, they are indeed real incidents that have happened. Reading this string also shows that I'm not the only one with stories about GC.

 

[Big Poppa]

I just try to stay on his good side so he won't lick my bass.

Again, why do you call it "Bashing" when we are telling stories of FACT that have happened. My experiences with GC are not opinion, they are indeed real incidents that have happened. Reading this string also shows that I'm not the only one with stories about GC.

Marty will be the first to tell you that with 10,000 employees that sometimes the experience is less than satisfactory. I believe that management at GC is not asleep at the wheel and that they understand that their future depends on serving the musician. If it was just about stock prices why in hell would the ceo of the biggest company in the musical world take time to talk to you guys here?

As Ive said not all GC's are great, and not all of the Mom and Pops are hunky dory. If all of the mom and pop stores had their sh*t together Guitar Center would be much less of a force.

Jack's posts speculated that there would be less bashing after people got big picture insight and perspective. He didnt say that all bashing was undeserved. HE didn't say bashing would go away. I am with Jack....when people get more intimate insight usually comes a better understading. Look at what Rayan has learned about GC from this thread.

 

[chazmusicman]

You know what bothers me the most about GC or I guess about my local GC? I've had numerous friends work for the local GC and all of them say the same thing. That their manager was going after mom and pop shops to put them out of business in the area. They would target a certain store and then try and under cut them as much as possible until finally that store closed, I even saw a district manager or whatever come into the mom and pop shop and look around with some other head guy checking out inventory and prices.

That just makes me sick , what company thinks they can come into a town and run out the other little stores that have been there for years...... hmmm I guess Walmart and GC.

 

[BigBallz]

He is comming here to hear what the consumer experiences are. I assure you, he wants both positive and negative. He is a smart CEO..and yes, it is about stock prices. He would not be doing his job if he did not care about all the thousands of investors that have trusted him with their money.

Now I had a problem with a bass I bought from GC. You and I had a legnthy disscussion about this incident. It indeed happened. After our conversation, I ordered another bass. And I am quite pleased with it. So much so, I ordered another one. That's a considerable amount of money spent on your product in one month.

I bought these basses because of the FACT that somthing happened at GC with that 1st bass. I belived your statement that your quality is second to none.

 

[BigBallz]

You know what bothers me the most about GC or I guess about my local GC? I've had numerous friends work for the local GC and all of them say the same thing. That their manager was going after mom and pop shops to put them out of business in the area. They would target a certain store and then try and under cut them as much as possible until finally that store closed, I even saw a district manager or whatever come into the mom and pop shop and look around with some other head guy checking out inventory and prices.

That just makes me sick , what company thinks they can come into a town and run out the other little stores that have been there for years...... hmmm I guess Walmart and GC.

Well, that's just your opinion? (this said with a smile).....

 

[Psycho Ward]

I for one am a bigger fan of EBMM basses because BP does whatever it he does. I feel closer to the company that makes my favorite basses and I also feel a sense of community from the forum. Lots of fun can be had here, but you can also get a lot of information and help too. I’m still buzzed by the open house I’m a lucky guy and have got to lots of really cool things in my life and the open house was… well very special. Little things that happened on that trip were just too cool. Like sitting next to Dave Larue on a shuttle bus at LAX casually talking about Gard Lewis.

I really enjoy BP’s stories about some of the heaviest hitters in the business just hanging out or jamming with him. This stuff you don’t see and hear about just anywhere. Also this is one of the most civil forums I’ve ever attended, I guess we are all here because we dig EBMM basses and that gives us some common ground.

Well that’s enough love from me, I’d better get back to preparing the house for the French maid, you know hiding cameras, floor mirrors and stocking up on room freshener… just in case

 

[Big Poppa]

Question? Do you think that there will be more or less guitar center bashing after Marty's visit?

 

[shamus63]

Yeah, and I think that's just sooo unethical (on the part of the GC customer, that is).

It's bad enough that many people (myself included) go there to try a guitar and then buy it elsewhere. I hate to do that to GC, or anyone for that matter. But in my own defense I did it with the intention of buying it there if the price was right. Some folks go in and play their stuff with no intention of buying there under any circumstance, and that bothers me too.

I both agree and disagree with you on this one, Steve, for these reasons:

(Agree) ~ you have people that come in and 'purchase' an instrument for the sole purpose of gigging it once or twice...or as many times as you can in thirty days...with no other intention than to return it.

That is wrong.

(Disagreement) ~ People such as myself who actually like the instrument that I picked, and it's in good enough shape that I want to make it mine (read: excellent condition and in the finish I want; a rarity though), takes it home and gigs it in the real world setting only to find it really doesn't satisfy my needs (also a rarity).

Nothing wrong with returning it within the prescribed period.

Also, I have no problem testing a bass at GC that I do intend to purchase online. I'm up front with the sales people of my intent, so they're not standing there while losing a sale elsewhere in the store, and I treat the bass that I'm testing as if it were my own...very careful not to ding or scratch it.

My justification: I have and will continue to purchase most of my other bass needs (amps, strings, power conditioners, etc) directly from them.

Nothing wrong with that at all.

 

[high mileage]

The closest GC is now a little more than an hour from here. It's usually the first place I go to try out equipment because I know they have the best selection in the area. I've walked in on some great deals, been treated well and left knowing I'll come back.

Usually. I've had bad experiences there too, but not often. The worst was at a location that doesn't exist anymore, and it wasn't the end of the world. Sure I was pissed when they sold the bass that they were holding for me and tried to offer me a nice pink one instead but I took my cash and bought elsewhere. If that happens too much and people stop buying then they go out of business. GC seems to be in pretty good shape so I don't think that this is usually the case.

In fact, GC is opening a location in my town in a couple of weeks. I don't know if they will have the selection but they will be the only EBMM dealer in the area (other than the other GC mentioned). I'm sure the local place that's been in business for many years isn't very thrilled about this...

 

[BigBallz]

I belive that posters will have "more respect", (I will), for Marty's visit. However, if things don't change at THE STORES...then you will still hear the complaints. As you said, he has 10,000 employes, one visit to a forum is not going to change all those employes overnight...or even just the less than sastifactory ones.

 

[Big Poppa]

Actually I think that there are more positive stories than negative but the negative ones are usually emphasized and dramatized and hence stick in the memory. IF the majority of experiences were bad then the mom and pops must be worse that I thought. Usually restaurants with horrible service and food and attitude go broke.

Look at this forum. WE have 450 dealers in America.FOUR dealers are involved in this forum! TWO came to the open house! THese four can tell you that it has been a boon for them to get involved. I tell every dealer that I talk to that is looking for ways too improve their sales to register and get involved. They just dont want to work that hard. Dont you guys think that there should be more than 1% of our dealers participating here?

 

[Dargin]

Gc benifits every single Mom and Pop. How many of you test drove a product at GC then purchased from an independent? The product advertising GC does benifits both Music Man and independents because it elevates awarness. Information is power, and usually when you are critical of an operation whether it be MM, GC, or any other company you do not either understand or know all of the facts.